Stimulation device and use thereof

Abstract

A stimulation device and a method to coordinately stimulate two separate nerves in a human or animal body for activating a target tissue in the human or animal body comprises a first coil unit (91) configured to be positioned at the human or animal body to stimulate a first nerve of the two separate nerves, a second coil unit (92) configured to be positioned at the human or animal body to stimulate a second nerve of the two separate nerves; and a bracket structure (93) coupled to the first coil unit (91) and the second coil unit (92). The bracket structure (93) is adjustable such that positions and orientations of the first coil unit (91) and of the second coil unit (92) relative to each other are adaptable to a target configuration in which the first coil unit (91) and the second coil unit (92) are distinctly positioned at the human or animal body such that the first nerve can be stimulated by the first coil unit (91) and the second nerve can be stimulated by the second coil unit (93). The bracket structure (93) has a locking mechanism to block the position and orientation of the first coil unit (91) and the second coil unit (92) relative to each other in the target configuration.

1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A stimulation device to coordinately stimulate two separate nerves in a human or animal body for activating a target tissue in the human or animal body, comprising:
 a first coil unit configured to be positioned at the human or animal body to stimulate a first nerve of the two separate nerves;   a second coil unit configured to be positioned at the human or animal body to stimulate a second nerve of the two separate nerves; and   a bracket structure coupled to the first coil unit and the second coil unit, wherein   the bracket structure is adjustable such that positions and orientations of the first coil unit and of the second coil unit relative to each other are adaptable to a target configuration in which the first coil unit and the second coil unit are distinctly positioned at the human or animal body such that the first nerve can be stimulated by the first coil unit and the second nerve can be stimulated by the second coil unit, and   the bracket structure has a locking mechanism to block the position and orientation of the first coil unit and the second coil unit relative to each other in the target configuration.   
     
     
         36 . The stimulation device of  claim 35 , wherein the locking mechanism of the bracket structure is configured to irreversibly block the position and orientation of the first coil unit and the second coil unit relative to each other in the target configuration,
 wherein the first coil unit and the second coil unit preferably are detachably coupled to the bracket structure, and   wherein the bracket structure preferably is designed as a disposable.   
     
     
         37 . The stimulation device of  claim 35 , wherein the bracket structure is configured to adjust a distance between the first coil unit and the second coil unit to a target distance of the target configuration,
 wherein the locking mechanism of the bracket structure preferably is configured to mechanically prevent adjustment of the distance between the first coil unit and the second coil unit.   
     
     
         38 . The stimulation device of  claim 37 , wherein the bracket structure comprises a first leg portion and a second leg portion connected to each other by a hinge portion,
 the first coil unit is coupled to the first leg portion and the second coil unit is coupled to the second leg portion, and   the distance between the first coil unit and the second coil unit can be adjusted by pivoting the first leg portion and the second leg portion relative to each other about the hinge portion,   wherein the locking mechanism of the bracket structure preferably is configured to mechanically prevent the hinge portion from pivoting the first leg portion and the second leg portion relative to each other.   
     
     
         39 . The stimulation device of  claim 35 , wherein the bracket structure is configured to adjust a first orientation of the first coil unit to a first target orientation of the target configuration and a second orientation of the second coil unit to a second target orientation of the target configuration,
 wherein the locking mechanism of the bracket structure preferably is configured to mechanically prevent adjustment of the first orientation and of the second orientation.   
     
     
         40 . The stimulation device of  claim 39 , wherein the bracket structure comprises a first pivoting coupler and a second pivoting coupler, wherein the first coil unit is mounted to the first pivoting coupler and the second coil unit is mounted to the second pivoting coupler,
 wherein the first pivoting coupler preferably is configured to provide pivoting the first coil unit relative to the bracket structure about two essentially perpendicular axes and the second pivoting coupler is configured to provide pivoting the second coil unit relative to the bracket unit about two essentially perpendicular axes,   wherein the locking mechanism of the bracket structure preferably is configured to mechanically prevent the first pivoting coupler from pivoting the first coil unit and the second pivoting coupler from pivoting the second coil unit.   
     
     
         41 . The stimulation device of  claim 35 , wherein
 the bracket structure comprises a first frame portion, a second frame portion and a forehead support structure,   the first coil unit is coupled to the first frame portion and the second coil unit is coupled to the second frame portion,   the first frame portion and the second frame portion are connected via the forehead support structure, and   the forehead support structure is configured to be positioned at and to contact a forehead of the patient.   
     
     
         42 . The stimulation device of  claim 41 , wherein the bracket structure comprises an overhead arch having a first tangential end and a second tangential end, the first frame portion is mounted to the first tangential end of the overhead arch, and the second frame portion is mounted to the second tangential end of the overhead arch,
 wherein the bracket structure preferably is configured such that a distance between the overhead arch and the first coil unit and a distance between the overhead arch and the second coil unit are adjustable.   
     
     
         43 . The stimulation device of  claim 41 ,
 wherein the forehead support structure of the bracket structure is configured to be adjusted in accordance with a size of the forehead of the patient, and/or   wherein the forehead support structure of the bracket structure comprises a band configured to extend along the forehead of the patient, and/or   wherein the forehead support structure of the bracket structure comprises a pad configured to contact the forehead of the patient, and/or   wherein each of the first frame portion and the second frame portion comprise a neck position guide section to which the first coil unit and the second coil unit, respectively, is movably mounted such that the first coil unit and the second coil unit can be varyingly positioned about a neck of the patient.   
     
     
         44 . The stimulation device of  claim 35 , wherein the locking mechanism of the bracket structure comprises
 a first fastening member coupled to the first coil unit and configured to be in a fixed state, in which the first coil unit is immovably fastened, and in a loose state, in which the first coil unit is movable, and   a second fastening member coupled to the second coil unit and configured to be in a fixed state, in which the second coil unit is immovably fastened, and in a loose state, in which the second coil unit is movable.   
     
     
         45 . The stimulation device of  claim 44 , wherein
 the first coil unit is mounted to the neck position guide section of the first frame portion by the first fastening member of the locking mechanism, wherein in the fixed state the first coil unit is immovably fastened to the neck position guide section of the first frame portion and in the loose state the first coil unit is movable relative to the neck position guide section of the first frame portion, and   the second coil unit is mounted to the neck position guide section of the second frame portion by the second fastening member of the locking mechanism, wherein in the fixed state the second coil unit is immovably fastened to the neck position guide section of the second frame portion and in the loose state the second coil unit is movable relative to the neck position guide section of the second frame portion.   
     
     
         46 . The stimulation device of  claim 41 , wherein the bracket structure comprises two support structures configured to support the stimulation device on a torso of the patient, wherein, preferably,
 one of the two support structures is comprised by the first frame portion and the other of the two support structures is comprised by the second frame portion, and/or.   one of the two support structures comprises a first support bar movably connected to the first frame portion and the other of the two support structures comprises a second support bar movably connected to the second frame portion.   
     
     
         47 . The stimulation device of  claim 35 , comprising a reference structure configured to repeatedly locating the stimulation device at a target position of the human or animal body. 
     
     
         48 . The stimulation device of  claim 47 , wherein the reference structure comprises at least two through-holes provided in the bracket structure and designed to allow providing markers to the human or animal body there through. 
     
     
         49 . The stimulation device of  claim 47 , wherein the reference structure comprises at least two connector members configured to be connected to respective connector members applied to the human or animal body. 
     
     
         50 . The stimulation device of  claim 35 , wherein the bracket structure comprises a vacuum element configured to attach the stimulation device to the human or animal body. 
     
     
         51 . The stimulation device of  claim 35 , wherein
 the first coil unit has a first forward face configured to be positioned at the human or animal body,   the second coil unit has a second forward face configured to be positioned at the human or animal body,   the bracket structure has a third forward face configured to be positioned at the human or animal body, and   the stimulation device is configured to be arranged at a defined location of the patient by the first forward face, the second forward face and the third forward face being positioned at the patient.   
     
     
         52 . A method of stimulating two separate nerves in a human or animal body for activating a target tissue in the human or animal body, comprising:
 obtaining a stimulation device according to  claim 35 ;   adjusting a bracket structure of the stimulation device such that positions and orientations of a first coil unit of the stimulation device and of a second coil unit of the stimulation device relative to each other are adapted to a target configuration in which the first coil unit and the second coil unit are distinctly positioned at the human or animal body such that a first nerve of the patient can be stimulated by the first coil unit and a second nerve of the patient can be stimulated by the second coil unit; and   locking the bracket structure to block the position and orientation of the first coil unit and the second coil unit relative to each other in the target configuration.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , comprising
 a step of obtaining an activation biofeedback indicative for the activation of the target tissue induced by the stimulation of the two nerves, wherein adjusting the bracket structure comprises varying the positions and orientations of the first and second coil units of the stimulation device and stopping variation of the first and second coil units of the stimulation device when the activation biofeedback is satisfying, and, preferably,   a step of arranging a biofeedback sensor to sense for an activation of the target tissue, wherein the activation biofeedback is obtained by provision of a sensor signal generated by the biofeedback sensor.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein when varying the positions and orientations of the first and second coil units of the stimulation device the activation biofeedback is gathered, the gathered activation biofeedbacks of the varied positions and orientations of the first and second coil units of the stimulation device are compared to each other and the position and orientation of the first and second coil units of the stimulation device having the best activation biofeedback is selected as the position and orientation of the first and second coil units of the stimulation device with the satisfying activation biofeedback.